Phone scams are becoming increasingly more common and without the proper information, you could become a victim yourself.

In order to help its customers remain of scams, the Turlock Irrigation District in reminding residents about how it conducts business.

From time to time, TID will contact customers over the phone or in person to conduct business, which may include collecting payment. However, scammers occasionally pose as TID representatives to prey on customers.

According to TID, customers should always be skeptical of individuals who are being pushy and demanding payment or personal information, especially if they are threatening to turn off your power.

“Electrical disconnections are a last resort for TID,” TID writes on their scam page. “Customers subject to disconnect are notified by mail of their delinquent status prior to their service being disconnected.”

Calls from TID’s Customers Service Division will from TID’s 209-883-8222 phone number. Outgoing calls from most TID offices will generally come from a 209-883-xxxx number, where the x’s represent any digit. Calls from TID’s Patterson office may also come from a 209-892-xxxx number.

Customers who suspect a caller may not be from TID an advised to hang up and call 209-883-8222 or another number listed on TID’s Customer Service Numbers page in order to confirm the authenticity of the call. Occasionally TID employees will call customers directly from their cell phone, but if you are even in doubt a little, contact TID to confirm.

Remember the following so you do not fall victim to a phone scam:

• TID will be able to verify the account holder’s name and account number.
• TID never uses e-mail to seek payments or personal information from customers.
• TID does not conduct customer service or solicit payments via text messages.
• TID does not use any social media (examples include Twitter and Facebook) to solicit payments or initiate customer service.
• TID offices are closed on Saturday and Sunday. TID does not solicit payments or disconnect power for non-payment on weekends, after business hours, or on holidays when TID offices are closed.

Similarly, remember the following if a TID representative, or someone claiming to be one, contacts you in person:

• TID employees drive white vehicles with blue TID logos visible on the door panels. The vehicles will have State of California Exempt license plates.
• Service workers wear blue shirts with TID logos embroidered on the front and/or back.
• All TID employees also have company-issued identification badges.
• TID does not work with any third-party vendors for payment collection, nor does TID contract with any agency or service conducting door-to-door rebates or promotions.
• TID employees in the field have official paperwork indicating the service address at which they are supposed to be, the name of the account holder, and the proper account number.

If you are suspicious of a TID representative at your home, you can contact the Customer Service Department at 209-883-8222, who will know if a TID employee is supposed to be at a particular service address.

For more information on TID scams, visit TID.org/scams.